God is My Escape Plan
BIBLICAL POINT OF REFERENCE:
“I command you: be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.”
~Joshua 1:9
Do you ever feel trapped? Not trapped because of a person or a job or anything like that, but trapped in yourself? Like you’re stuck in your own head, fighting against your own terrible thoughts and fears. Like you just want to get away from everything because you can’t sort out what’s good for you and what’s holding you back.
You’re just trapped.
It’s times like these where I’m clueless about how to help myself. I’m not depressed, I’m not crazy, I simply have too much going on in my mind. How do I clear all of that turmoil?
I usually look for an escape. Not a mental escape—a physical escape. I think about taking an actual vacation, usually to somewhere that is far away and definitely not within my budget. I think: I can do it! I can just leave behind everyone and everything and travel!
Except I can’t. Because more than anything, that wouldn’t be escaping the problem of feeling trapped—it would be running away.
Escape is a funny word, isn’t it We define it as a way to get ourselves or others to safety, as something almost heroic, something that takes a lot of effort, but is good in the end. We mourn those who cannot escape. And we are always looking for our next getaway.
Its negative connotation isn’t nearly as pleasant to think about.
What we forget is that there is power in staying behind. When we feel trapped within ourselves, escaping those thoughts and emotions will only last so long; those thoughts and emotions will always come back.
So what if we stayed and fought back? What if we told the Devil to back off and asked God to step in?
What if God was our escape plan?
Can we allow Him to provide us with comfort? Can we step out of that trap long enough to grab His Hand? Can we trust Him to help us escape the inner cage of ourselves?
I think we can. I think there’s more courage in faith than in escape. I think maybe we’re not very trapped at all if God is our guide.
You see, my sisters, long before we fell into our everyday traps, God was holding us safely in the palm of His Hand. Sure, we take a wrong turn every once in a while, but His door remains open. In fact, He's the one helping us get back on track.
The lock has been picked. The cage is open. There’s a way out of that trap. Grab hold of Him, sisters. He’s here to set you free.
Your Laughing Sister,
Callahan
Check out the WHEN LIFE DRAGS YOU DOWN quotes page for more inspiration!
